PRISM Movie

Background

These were the idents that were seen before movies on the cable channel PRISM.

1st Logo (1980-1982)

Visuals: On a purple/pink/black gradient background, there is a golden filmstrip with PRISM logos moving down. As the filmstrip continues to move, the text MOVIES in a dark pink neon font zooms in, and flies up. The same animation plays, but this time, the MOVIES text flies down. The gradient background and filmstrips disappear with a blue flash, replacing the background with a starscape background. We then see the PRISM logo in silver, shining (possibly reused from the 1980 ident) and moving down. Then, the text "MOVIE PRESENTATION" in red fades in with a semicircle of different colors. The text then flashes, and fades to black, usually followed by a rating screen.

Variants:

The "MOVIE PRESENTATION" text can be in yellow.
A shorter version exists. Here, the logo animates normally, until the final MOVIES text zooms in. It then cuts to the PRISM logo moving down.

Technique: Early computer animation

Audio: A string piece with numerous bells when the "MOVIES" text appears.

Availability: Check old recordings of movies on PRISM from 1980-1982.

2nd Logo (1982-1985)

Visuals: Over a black background there is the PRISM logo. It flashes and turns into a rainbow trail of PRISM logos, whilst rotating and moving to the right. A purple-outlined filmstrip with lines drawing it then zooms outward, placing itself in the center. A black filmstrip zooms out and places itself on top of the purple filmstrip, and the whole thing rotates and reveals that the filmstrip is on a metallic silver filmreel with four holes. The reel rotates two times, before becoming a red line with a white dot in the centre along the horizon. A purple trail of the PRISM logo zooms from the dot up and changes to its usual colors, with the text “PRESENTS” following suit, but moving down. The text then changes to silver, and the PRISM logo and the “PRESENTS” text logo shine once.

Technique: Advanced Scanimation.

Audio: An orchestral melody.

Availability: Same as before.

3rd Logo (1988-1990)

Visuals: On a black background, a CGI grey filmreel zooms out from behind us. It then reveals to have a cyan PRISM logo on it. The reel continues to rotate, and then a "filmstrip" comes out of the reel, with the PRISM logo on top. The filmstrip separates from the logo and moves down, with the text "PRESENTS" in gold zooming out and rotating so that you see the front. The filmstrip disappears and the logo shines.

Variant: Usually, the logo would be superimposed over the rating screen or background of PRISM logos.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A different orchestral piece than the last logo.

Availability: Same as before.